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What TV doesn't, print can't; we deliver.
CHENNAI: The deluge following the Michaung cyclone that killed 17 people and caused unprecedented damage to the infrastructure of one of the oldest cities in the country, Chennai, has raised serious questions regarding uneven constructions along the low-lying areas in the city.
Prime areas such as Valasaravakkom, Kodambakkom and Mylapore are still bearing the brunt of water logging following 48 hours of heavy rainfall in Chennai. Following the cyclonic storm, experts have begun questioning the delay in authorities to subvert the crisis and enable vehicular movement.
“We are paying the price for the unscientific and unauthorised constructions being made in the low-lying and marshy lands which are not meant for constructions. It’s high time the government intervenes in such matters, else we will have to go through the same situation in the future”, said Pazhanivel, a town planner expert based in Chennai.
FLASH : Air Force Station, Tambaram steps up relief efforts post-#CycloneMichaung, delivering 400 Kg of essential food supplies to ‘cut off’ areas in Chennai.
Four Chetak helicopters execute crucial drops in Medavakkam to Puzhudivakkam and Manali Petro Chemicals to #Nappalayam. pic.twitter.com/eCxwYqUv8H— The New Indian (@TheNewIndian_in) December 6, 2023
The devastation brought back memories of the 2015 deluge in the city — the disaster that was the result of poor reservoir management, experiencing the heaviest rains in decades.
“A lot of serious questions arise regarding the constructions which are being allowed in the outskirts of the city. Even now there are many places where the water is neck deep. The authorities should have learnt a lesson after the 2015 floods. But sadly, nothing has changed”, told Parameshwar Swamy, a civil engineer, who has been a Chennai resident for the past 30 years to The New Indian.
Chennai experienced a single-day rainfall of 24 cm on Monday, slightly less than what it received in 2015. According to the India Meteorological Department, rainfall of 21 cm and above is categorised as ‘extremely heavy’ reflecting on the severity of the situation.
The floods were triggered by Cyclone Michaung, which began the landfall process between Nellore and Kavali in Andhra Pradesh on Tuesday afternoon. The cyclone has led to many deaths, while approximately 18,729 including 6,000 Chennai residents, have been moved to relief camps.
Michaung is the fourth cyclone developed in the Bay of Bengal this year.
The city witnessed a shutdown, with local transport facilities coming to a halt, and the air traffic blocked, as the cyclone hit Chennai. As the cyclone reaches Andhra Pradesh, questions have once again been raised regarding Chennai’s infrastructure, being the fifth largest city and home to 6.7 million people, having failed to prepare for floods and water-logging.
As per the latest reports emerging from Chennai, the arterial roads of Anna Salai and GST Road towards the airport, apart from others, are totally motorable and clean. Major residential areas in the city — Mylapore, Valasarawakkam, Arumbakkam and Kodambakkam still face knee-deep, waist-deep logged water. Southern parts of the city — Tambaram, Velachery, IT corridor OMR, and Pallikaranai, continue to face severe flooding.
Air Force choppers have begun air-dropping food and water packets, Navy and army rescue teams are deployed across the city for rescue and evacuation and supplying essentials. NDRF teams are also carrying out efforts.
Some parts of the city are back to normal. Other parts are still stuck without power and network.
Chief Secretary Sivdas Meena spoke to the media concerning the current situation in Chennai.
“Rain water has started draining in the flooded areas.The work of draining rain water through motors is going on vigorously. Workers have been brought in from other districts of Tamil Nadu. All departments like the Electricity Board, Police, and the Highway Department have been involved in rescue and relief work. 34 teams are working under the National Disaster Response Force. 311 livestock deaths were reported”, she said.
Annually, the city receives around 1,400mm of rainfall, which mostly hits the city during the North-East monsoon between October and December.
